2018年CRI U.S. expert is calling on the White House to properly handle trade issues

 

With new Sino-US trade talks around the corner, an expert in the US is calling on the White House to listen to more voices on the issue.

Professor Ann Lee teaches economics and finance at New York University (NYU).

She suggests that it is very dangerous for America to continue down the path of a trade war with China and adopt trade policies mainly based on presumptions¹.

"I would say that the reason for the trade war is actually not about trade. The administration certainly is making unreasonable² demands that they know that the Chinese government cannot actually meet, and therefore it gives them excuse. It's political power, security and military power that they are mostly concerned about. They feel their last weapon is to start a trade war."

Lee adds that the U.S. government imposes tariffs³ on Chinese goods in the name of national security, and suggests that American businessmen are reluctant to see this continue.

"I think a lot of these American businesses they are already getting economically hurt. The environment continuously deteriorates⁴, and I don't think these business people have a lot influence at this point. Because you know, with these laws that are passed, FIRRMA (Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization⁵ Act) basically enables national security interests to now dictate⁶ what U.S. commercial business can do."

Lee also says dissenting⁷ voices have been expressed from academic circles in America but are rarely reported by domestic media outlets⁸.

"Well, so the opinions of academic are against what's going on, basically do not have a voice media, the media is on the side of Trump⁹'s aggression¹⁰ against China. Every media repeats the same narratives¹¹ and there is no debate with people that actually have a different perspective."

The professor suggests that many scholars are worried about Trump's "America First" strategy of abandoning multilateralism and moving towards unilateralism, and also abandoning free trade in favor of protectionism.

"At this point, clearly Trump has already established a distain for multilateral institutions. Everything that the U.S. has originally committed to seems to be pulling out, and basically rewriting all the rules. So a lot of people are frankly¹² frightened about what's happening because this can easily lead to a recession and depression down the road, and you know, business are already being affected¹³, and you know, nationalism is going to be further inside everywhere, and it's not going to be actually about solving issues. It's more about building a case for war."

Lee says some American scholars believe that if the U.S. keeps disrupting the global order, it might even cause an existential crisis for mankind.

1 presumptions   

n.假定( presumption的名词复数 )；认定；推定；放肆

参考例句：

• Much modern technological advance is based on these presumptions of legal security. 许多现代技术的发展都是基于这些法律安全设想的考虑。 来自互联网
• What visions, what expectations and what presumptions can outsoar that flight? 那一种想象，那一种期望和推测能超越他之上呢？ 来自互联网

2 unreasonable   

adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的

参考例句：

• I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
• They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。

3 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。

4 deteriorates   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• After a few years' planting, the quality of the potato crop deteriorates. 土豆种了几年之后就会退化。
• Virus activity deteriorates in plasma stored at room temperature. 在室温下储藏的血浆中病毒活动逐渐衰退。

5 modernization   

n.现代化，现代化的事物

参考例句：

• This will help us achieve modernization.这有助于我们实现现代化。
• The Chinese people are sure to realize the modernization of their country.中国人民必将实现国家现代化。

6 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

7 dissenting   

adj.不同意的

参考例句：

• He can't tolerate dissenting views. 他不能容纳不同意见。
• A dissenting opinion came from the aunt . 姑妈却提出不赞同的意见。

8 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

10 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

11 narratives   

记叙文( narrative的名词复数 )； 故事； 叙述； 叙述部分

参考例句：

• Marriage, which has been the bourne of so many narratives, is still a great beginning. 结婚一向是许多小说的终点，然而也是一个伟大的开始。
• This is one of the narratives that children are fond of. 这是孩子们喜欢的故事之一。

12 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

13 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。